NEW PM PLEDGES HONESTY, INTEGRITY

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THE new Prime Minister Rick Hou has pledged to serve the country with honesty and integrity.

The Member of Parliament for Small Malaita made the pledge in his inaugural speech yesterday immediately after being declared the new Prime Minister.

“I promise to do the best of my ability and to serve this country with honesty and integrity,” an elated Mr Hou uttered on the doorsteps of Parliament.

He also emphasised the importance of all Solomon Islanders embracing peace and national unity.

Mr Hou said peace and national unity are important aspects of ‘nationhood and nation-building.’

“As a matter of fact, unity is the way forward in achieving peace, progress and prosperity. We must avoid disunity’ because it only forges instability.”

On that note, he encouraged Members of Parliament from both the Opposition and Independent group to work together with his government.

“As elected leaders, I hope we can work together in governing our beloved country.

“I believe we can move this country forward if we put all our differences aside and focus on our national interests and of our people. “

The Prime Minister thanked public servants, business houses, premiers and provincial assemblies, churches, traditional chiefs, community leaders, elders, youths and women leaders for their different but equally important contributions to nation-building.

He also thanked all Solomon Islanders nationwide and abroad for their support and prayer during the recent political impasse and urged everyone to continue to embrace peaceful co-existence and unity and to support his government.

“We all have a responsibility to lead and serve our nation so let us discharge that responsibility with dignity and dedication.

“I urge all of you to support this Government. This is your Government; I am humbled to have been elected to lead it.